'Sometimes you have to blow your own trumpet!' someone said to me yesterday
Wilko and I finished as first 'mixed pair' in the Score class, so I won my first prize for many years. Prizes don't mean much, but seventh overall in such an event means we did very well.
More importantly, I really relished being back in a 'simple' Mountain Marathon, where good solid route choice and navigation through rugged mountain scenery gives a great sense of reward.
Well Done Wilko - she'd be the first to admit she's not at her fittest after a winter of injury and rest - but that's no excuse and irrelevant. We did well because we went steadily in the right direction, didn't get lost (well... a moments magnetic confusion on Beinn Bhuidhe maybe) and weren't too late back and incuring large penalties. We did have a bit of a 'flat' Saturday and thought we'd made the wrong route strategy choice, but having pushed hard to make Saturday's finish on time it was all to play for on Sunday.
'Endurance Saturday - Speed Sunday' remarked 'Wilks', as we found some soggy tussocks for her to relish followed by some tricky navigation in complex claggy ground, which played to our strengths. But we did have to run the last five km to limit penalties to just three minutes lateness. I was duly honoured and humbled to get a beer handed to me by Miriam Rosen as we finished and it made 'Wilfs' chilli one of the best ever. Thank you Wilko.
Congratulations to Anthony Emmett and Helen Jackson on an impressive Mixed Pair win in the Elite, proving they really can mix it with the top mountain runners. Bad luck to Team Haglofs ... well done Lewis for completing the Elite despite a nasty gash to his shin sustained on Saturday and to Angus and Francis of NFR for their third place in the Elite. And they never looked tired or stressed at all.
Now, whose entered the LDMT?
Thursday, 17 June 2010
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
HeB2B Route Outline + Cycle Shirts
The Race is ON .... for Cycle Shirts!
So much to do... but I've done a lot already! Overnight locations are sorted and the next pressing need is the design and ordering of cycle shirts. www.cyclejersey.com is the company we will be using. We have ideas, colours and a designer working on it now, so I need your firm orders and payment asap. Trust me it will be good!
Full Route details will be out in mid-June. Game ON!
So much to do... but I've done a lot already! Overnight locations are sorted and the next pressing need is the design and ordering of cycle shirts. www.cyclejersey.com is the company we will be using. We have ideas, colours and a designer working on it now, so I need your firm orders and payment asap. Trust me it will be good!
Full Route details will be out in mid-June. Game ON!
Friday, 7 May 2010
Dockray-Hartside Fell Race Results - 2010
Dockray-Hartside Fell Race
(Race report on previous blog posting, below)
1 Chris Waters Ambleside 51.45
2 Chris Newman Wharfedale 52.32
3 Kim Collinson Eden Runners 52.54
4 Ian Davies Keswick 55.09
5 Chris Knowles CFR M40 55.18
6 Liam Horsfall 55.29
7 Daniel Nute Kendal 60.29
8 Adam Logan Ambleside 60.44
9 Dave Prossser Keswick M40 61.12
10 Chris Harling 61.36
11 Nigel Thomas Helm Hill M40 61.55
12 Toby Harling Border 62.33
13 Carlos Naylor Eden Runners 62.36
14 Keith Hill Keswick M41 62.47
15 Gavin Thomas Kendal M45 63.55
16 Peter Hague Cairngorm 63.55
17 Karen Bridge Eden Runners 64.46
18 Andy Thompson Eden Runners 66.36
19 Dave Tait DPFR V60 66.37
20 Fraser Livesey Howgill 66.42
21 Ian Horne Eden Runners 67.39
22 Richard Ellwood 66.59
23 Alex Kirby Arragons Tri 67.57
24 David Hobson 67.57
25 Peter Bailey 67.58
26 John Horne Keswick 68.03
27 Shaun Hardisty Eden Runners 68.25
28 Anja Phoenix Eden Runners 70.24
29 Anne Wilson Eden Runners 71.17
30 David Harrison` Keswick M60 71.17
31 Simon Veitch M40 73.16
32 Derek Queenan 74.51
33 Steve Howe Old Boy 74.53
34 Patric Gilchrist Keswick M63 77.17
35 Gill Douglas Eden Runners 84.28
36 David Brooks Blackpool, Wyre, Flyde 84.39
37 Gary Hadwin Keswick 85.51
38 Gary Dixon Keswick 85.51
39 Ian Rooke Kendal 92.38
40 Jane Hornsby 93.51
(Race report on previous blog posting, below)
1 Chris Waters Ambleside 51.45
2 Chris Newman Wharfedale 52.32
3 Kim Collinson Eden Runners 52.54
4 Ian Davies Keswick 55.09
5 Chris Knowles CFR M40 55.18
6 Liam Horsfall 55.29
7 Daniel Nute Kendal 60.29
8 Adam Logan Ambleside 60.44
9 Dave Prossser Keswick M40 61.12
10 Chris Harling 61.36
11 Nigel Thomas Helm Hill M40 61.55
12 Toby Harling Border 62.33
13 Carlos Naylor Eden Runners 62.36
14 Keith Hill Keswick M41 62.47
15 Gavin Thomas Kendal M45 63.55
16 Peter Hague Cairngorm 63.55
17 Karen Bridge Eden Runners 64.46
18 Andy Thompson Eden Runners 66.36
19 Dave Tait DPFR V60 66.37
20 Fraser Livesey Howgill 66.42
21 Ian Horne Eden Runners 67.39
22 Richard Ellwood 66.59
23 Alex Kirby Arragons Tri 67.57
24 David Hobson 67.57
25 Peter Bailey 67.58
26 John Horne Keswick 68.03
27 Shaun Hardisty Eden Runners 68.25
28 Anja Phoenix Eden Runners 70.24
29 Anne Wilson Eden Runners 71.17
30 David Harrison` Keswick M60 71.17
31 Simon Veitch M40 73.16
32 Derek Queenan 74.51
33 Steve Howe Old Boy 74.53
34 Patric Gilchrist Keswick M63 77.17
35 Gill Douglas Eden Runners 84.28
36 David Brooks Blackpool, Wyre, Flyde 84.39
37 Gary Hadwin Keswick 85.51
38 Gary Dixon Keswick 85.51
39 Ian Rooke Kendal 92.38
40 Jane Hornsby 93.51
Dockray-Hartside Fell Race
We don’t make a huge song and dance about stuff at Dockray, but thanks to you all for running. I think everyone had fun, and I thank you for enjoying your race.
There was some impressive performances amongst you, especially the more ‘mature runners.’ Age is just a number, which we don’t dwell on, and having no prizes age is irrelevant, but Dave Tait from DPFR had a storming run as did Patric Gilchrist in the older age group. There was a great mix of people form all over the country; Dave from DPFR and Peter Hague from the Cairngorm Club. Local lass Karen Bridge-Heaviside did not get lost, despite her fears, impending middle-age and post-London recovery, and lack of downhill running ability, was a clear female winner. Well done Karen.
There is loads of route choice at Dockray, and many stories of poor lines. Indeed, the first two runners were seen racing at 90 degrees from the optimum line from the final summit. Or was it Eden Runners out for a jolly social run? I doubt it at that speed! Quite a few new young faces at the front with Kim Collinson guiding the top runners around for third place, whilst Chris Waters and Chris Newman appeared to out sprint him on the long final descent.
Seriously, well done for everyone for venturing out and taking on Dockray-Hartside; it is not an easy race and takes you into some tough highly exposed terrain. You’ll appreciate your fell racing kit next time when the greyness turns to dank wetness – a wind/waterproof jacket should be the minimum for any race or run in such terrain, regardless of race rules.
Very, seriously, well done to anyone who thought, ‘Bloody hell that was rough, but I survived!’ This is fell running. And everyone seems to appreciate our ‘£1 no frills’ entry fee.
Big thanks to Tricia, Alan and Ken and also to Sian, Judith and Larry, without whom I wouldn’t be doing this anyway. It was Larry and Judith, along with Barry and Brenda Thompson (ex-Landlord of The Royal) who instigated all the ‘Dockray Races over twenty-five years ago. Now we only have the one race, but I’d love to stage more if we had the resources to do it.
Results here soon, (hopefully!)
Joe
There was some impressive performances amongst you, especially the more ‘mature runners.’ Age is just a number, which we don’t dwell on, and having no prizes age is irrelevant, but Dave Tait from DPFR had a storming run as did Patric Gilchrist in the older age group. There was a great mix of people form all over the country; Dave from DPFR and Peter Hague from the Cairngorm Club. Local lass Karen Bridge-Heaviside did not get lost, despite her fears, impending middle-age and post-London recovery, and lack of downhill running ability, was a clear female winner. Well done Karen.
There is loads of route choice at Dockray, and many stories of poor lines. Indeed, the first two runners were seen racing at 90 degrees from the optimum line from the final summit. Or was it Eden Runners out for a jolly social run? I doubt it at that speed! Quite a few new young faces at the front with Kim Collinson guiding the top runners around for third place, whilst Chris Waters and Chris Newman appeared to out sprint him on the long final descent.
Seriously, well done for everyone for venturing out and taking on Dockray-Hartside; it is not an easy race and takes you into some tough highly exposed terrain. You’ll appreciate your fell racing kit next time when the greyness turns to dank wetness – a wind/waterproof jacket should be the minimum for any race or run in such terrain, regardless of race rules.
Very, seriously, well done to anyone who thought, ‘Bloody hell that was rough, but I survived!’ This is fell running. And everyone seems to appreciate our ‘£1 no frills’ entry fee.
Big thanks to Tricia, Alan and Ken and also to Sian, Judith and Larry, without whom I wouldn’t be doing this anyway. It was Larry and Judith, along with Barry and Brenda Thompson (ex-Landlord of The Royal) who instigated all the ‘Dockray Races over twenty-five years ago. Now we only have the one race, but I’d love to stage more if we had the resources to do it.
Results here soon, (hopefully!)
Joe
Monday, 26 April 2010
Plan-B .... The Great Heb B2B Adventure - Game On!
Well, a small part of me feels mightily relieved. Another, bigger part feels that I have been hiding a few truths from friends, for which I feel bad, but the majority of me is looking firmly ahead to The Great Heb B2B Adventure.
If you have no idea to what I am referring then you need to know that The Hebridean Challenge has been officially cancelled for 2010, but I will be hosting an informal 'Mates Race' based on the format of the original race but it will be free, fun and quite a bit flexible. This is your race if you want to get involved. I have done quite a lot of work on a 'Heb-Highlights' route and it's looking great; there is something for everyone. Primarily, it will be a journey by bike and on foot, open to anyone who wants to do any or all of it. I'm really hoping that The Heb Paddlers will get together to paddle the two kayak crossings, and maybe some more.
'Jumpers for Goal Posts' it may seem, but I'm convinced that a group of us will enjoy the adventure although we can not officially call it a race. Some of the detail is still to be decided; indeed in is a bit of a work in progress, but the basis of it is a human powered journey from Barra to The Butt of Lewis open to anyone, in any combination of team, pair or solo, and during the original race week. I will be co-ordinating a route card as well as suggesting overnight locations, etc. but all expense will be meet by yourself
Full details will emerge in due course - on my website rather than the Heb website, as for many reasons we need to keep the two things separate.
Finally, this won't be a damp squib - it has the potential to be awesome - it will be an adventure. Please come and join in if you care about The Heb, it's future and the future of AR in wild wilderness locations. Or you just what to run, ride and party.
Contact me direct - if you want to be part of The Adventure.
faulknerjoe@hotmail.com
If you have no idea to what I am referring then you need to know that The Hebridean Challenge has been officially cancelled for 2010, but I will be hosting an informal 'Mates Race' based on the format of the original race but it will be free, fun and quite a bit flexible. This is your race if you want to get involved. I have done quite a lot of work on a 'Heb-Highlights' route and it's looking great; there is something for everyone. Primarily, it will be a journey by bike and on foot, open to anyone who wants to do any or all of it. I'm really hoping that The Heb Paddlers will get together to paddle the two kayak crossings, and maybe some more.
'Jumpers for Goal Posts' it may seem, but I'm convinced that a group of us will enjoy the adventure although we can not officially call it a race. Some of the detail is still to be decided; indeed in is a bit of a work in progress, but the basis of it is a human powered journey from Barra to The Butt of Lewis open to anyone, in any combination of team, pair or solo, and during the original race week. I will be co-ordinating a route card as well as suggesting overnight locations, etc. but all expense will be meet by yourself
Full details will emerge in due course - on my website rather than the Heb website, as for many reasons we need to keep the two things separate.
Finally, this won't be a damp squib - it has the potential to be awesome - it will be an adventure. Please come and join in if you care about The Heb, it's future and the future of AR in wild wilderness locations. Or you just what to run, ride and party.
Contact me direct - if you want to be part of The Adventure.
faulknerjoe@hotmail.com
Sunday, 11 April 2010
More or Less
I've just returned from a week in The Outer Hebrides, which seems a very long time when you come back to planet Cumbria.
Our trip was primarily a recce trip for the forthcoming Hebridean Challenge, and there are some very interesting developments that I shall be revealing very shortly.
Suffice to say, that this year's Heb will be a little different and should not be missed!
More info very soon!
Our trip was primarily a recce trip for the forthcoming Hebridean Challenge, and there are some very interesting developments that I shall be revealing very shortly.
Suffice to say, that this year's Heb will be a little different and should not be missed!
More info very soon!
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